LONDON CALLING

Ruby smiled at his sugention of bacon flavored dog buscuits " oh I think he'l love those" she said then listened to him say she could go rest if she needed , standing she walked over to him and smiled " thankyou" she said softly before bending down and gently kissing him on his lips " please don't stay up too late" she looked at finn and chuckled "Yeah I think he will." she said brushing her hand against his cheek she still wondered just how lucky she had been to find him. Turning she headed up the stairs but stopped for amoment " is there anything I can get for you befoer I head up?" she asked.

Once she ahd given Angus what he requested she ehaded up pating her side for Finn to follow and yawned again. Entering their room she watched as Finn went and lay down in his dog bed and she went to shower and change for the night making sure to put the diadem back in its box for safe keeping and the dress to be hung next to it so it would not get damaged. quickly she showered and washed her hair before slipping into her pj's and then into bed her head resting on the pillow as she thought about her idea for Angus's gift as she waited for him to come to bed.

"No, I'm good, thanks. Goodnight," he told her. Angus settled in with his book. He had read three chapters and was into chapter four when he heard noises and voices over at Edward's. They were obviously trying to be quiet so they didn't wake anyone on this half. It was only a few minutes later that Sergio and Ana came over with their kids. The kids, Angus could tell, were exhausted, looking about 3/4 asleep already. Ana took them straight up to bed while Sergio locked the doors and checked the windows to make sure all was secure.

"Did you have a good time?" Angus asked Sergio.

"The best," Sergio looked at him, smiling from ear to ear. "Ana and the kids and I haven't had any sort of family outing in ages, and I don't know if we've ever done one with Soros and Mara. This is something our kids will never forget. I don't know how to thank you for including us. By the way, Soros and I were talking about your injury. He says that because of how many dark arts beings we have in our area, injuries like yours have been relatively common, although very rarely with the amount of damage you took. Anyway, Soros believes that some of the old men, the truly old ones, know of some sort of very, very old potion that supposedly helps to repair the energy system. He and I are going to try to find out what that potion is and if anyone has the formula for it anymore or can brew some for us."

"I appreciate that," Angus said. "I really have tried hard to weather this with as little complaining as I manage, but sometimes it really does get to me."

"I would be insane by now, no doubt about it," Sergio said. "If there is a formula out there for you, I will find it. You have my word."

"I am mending, according to Robert, and he says it is still faster than what anyone else would be doing, but that still doesn't feel good enough."

"Do not give up. We'll find it," Sergio said. "Let me help you upstairs. You look entirely spent."

"I am," Angus confessed. Sergio helped him upstairs and to bed and then, once Angus was settled, Sergio went to be too. Angus felt like he was falling asleep before his head even hit the pillow.

Ruby woke the next morning to find Angus sleeping next to her and she smiled. Slipping from the bed she dressed and then moved to kiss him gently " see you later my love" she said softly then headed across to the main house to start breakfast. She decided to make Sausage and Egg Sandwiches along with Migas. She started cooking and the kettle boiling for coffee and tea. She started by Heating two tablespoons of oil on a large cast-iron skillet that was set to medium. She then adds onion and lets them cook for three minutes. Then with wet hands, she shape the sausage into four quarter-inch-thick patties and added them to the skillet with the onion and increase the heat to medium-high. She Flip the onion and cooked it until just tender, She Cooked the patties until browned then she flipped them.

Andrew came over to the duplex early in the morning and made a pot of coffee, knowing that nearly all of the adults drank coffee in the morning. He made some hot spiced cider for the kids, and then he made a fruit salad and then a large kettle of hot oatmeal with cinnamon, sugar, and some diced peaches for a change.

It wasn't long before the kids came downstairs, and Andrew gave them mugs of hot cider. He took a mug of coffee up to Angus and helped Angus shower, shampoo, shave and dress before taking him downstairs. By that time Sergio and Ana were up and dressed, and Ana had served the oatmeal and the fruit salad to the kids, who thought adding peaches to oatmeal was a great idea.

Just as Angus got downstairs, Soros and Mara came over and when they saw there was plenty of breakfast left, Soros called Edward and Simone over to eat with them. Soros repeated when he had said to Angus about the possibility of an old, old potion that might help Angus. Angus, for his part, was grateful they had thought of it, but he was clear he didn't want them to put themselves in danger to try to get it for them. Soros did not believe that would be necessary.

When Sergio and his family were ready to leave, Angus couldn't help but feel a little pang at some close friends departing for home, but Soros was sure they would be seeing Angus again soon, and this time w/ potion for him.

Andrew headed upstairs to put clean sheets on all the beds and to start doing the laundry. Simone stepped up to do the dishes, and Edward fed Finn and then took him outside for a walk. That left Angus to write another letter to Flourish and Blotts and ask them to send him a sizeable shipment of mystery novels. Andrew promised to send the note for him straight away.

It was as he was writing the note to the bookstore that an owl came with a letter. Andrew brought it to Angus, and when Angus opened it, he was frustrated. It was yet another letter from Suzanne, demanding to see her boys. She apparently had seen them at the carnival, and had tried several times to make contact with them but she had been thwarted at every turn by the same two "old geezers." She was upset that Angus would deliberately keep her from her boys. Angus wasn't sure who these two old "geezers" were that Suzanne was talking about, but he was grateful to them. And he had no intention of letting her see them. She had ruined that for herself when she and Gelding had attacked the estate last time. He had no intention of responding to her. He set the note aside on his end table, not hiding it from Ruby but not necessarily putting it where she would immediately see it either. He believed that by setting it out in the open and then simply not mentioning it, she would understand if she did see it, that he gave it no priority.

Ruby finished breakfast and set it on the table for the others. Heading abck to the duplex she smiled seeing Angus and the others sitting eating " morning all sorry I wasn't here when you arrived I had breakfast shift in the main house" she said moving to Angus she kissed his cheek but saw a latter with her mothers telltale signature. With a deep sigh she spoke softly " what did she want?" she asked " no let me guess the boys again?" she said and rolled her eyes " will she never give up but I'm glad everything was done legally" Ruby sat facing him.

Seeing Sergio and Ana ready to leve she stood up and walked over to Ana giving her a hug " don't be strangers , please" she said smiling at them all " and keep in contact , oh and I hope you'll come after this ones born for another visit." she said smiling as she moved back to stand with Angus in his chair.

Angus bid Sergio and his family goodbye and then he looked at Ruby.

"Of course she wants to see the boys, but Suzanne's not important, Ru," Angus told her. "She made her choice, and if she didn't figure on not having her sons drawn into it, well, then, that's just too bad for her. I don't care how old those boys get. I will always stand between her and them. If she wants to see them, she's going to have to get through me first. She's had their whole lives to get it right, and her chance is overwith. They are not related to her anymore."

"Angus, I completely forgot. Robert and Brian interviewed your candidates for the chef jobs and the housekeeper's posts, and they hired all three of your first picks. I think the woman--what's her name--Zoe--is going to start at the end of the week, and the couple--what's their names--are going to start the week after. But that really should lighten everyone's loads," Andrew said. "And Robert said something about the construction on the new housing will start in a couple days--whatever that means."

"Oh, he's making a little block of apartments for workers. Four apartments downstairs and four upstairs, I think. Or some configuration of eight. They'll be log construction, I'm sure, but I don't know the rest of it," Angus said. I think it's not going to be far from these houses, but I'm sure the location has probably been moved several times before they found the spot they wanted. It always is."

Ruby bid Sergio and his family good-by to Angus then listened to him talk " I know I'm not worried Angus, I know she can't touch them or us" she smiled at him it was now Andrew spoke to Angus and she smiled " those were very good choices" she said then listened when he spoke of the accommodations " that's right it would leave the cabins for couples." she said then noticed movement in the main house. " oh I have to get back love" she said and kissed his cheek one more " I'll be back for dinner, do you want me to cook" she asked.

Porting back to the main house she smiled seeing Jess and Jack sitting eating " I hope you like it" she said and Jack nodded with a smile.

"it's perfect thank you, Ruby," Jess said as she ate " I have a shift at the hospital so I'll take some to go," she said and Ruby made up a lunch box for her to take.

"here you go, enjoy," she said as Jess took the lunch box and smiled.

"Thank you, I will" she then ported away to St Mungos. Jack finished his breakfast and headed out to patrol just as Jessie came in to see Ruby he smiled and took one of the breakfast burgers and ate.

"morning you feel better?" she said and he nodded.

"Morning, these are great and yes whatever Robert gave me certainly worked, that and the soup Yu made last night too," he said spotting Yu walking over several clean bowls in his hand as he walked into the kkitchen

"I borrowed these last night I made Hot and sour soup for Jessie since he was bad," Yu said Ruby took the bows and smiled.

"Thank you for taking care of my brother," she said and Yu smiled at her.

"it was my pleasure," he said trying not to look at Jessie as he gave a low bow to Ruby.

"but you must teach me that recipe." she said " I can add it to the folders we have

"If you cook lunch, I'll try to cook supper," Angus said.

"No, that's mine and Simone's," Andrew said. "We were talking about an old fashioned cockaleekie soup, and Simone said she had a good recipe for one. She said she'd make supper if I could put together some sort of sandwich to go with it."

"Well, since cockaleekie has chicken, why don't you get into my book and find my recipe for coronation chicken?" Angus suggested. "It's an easy recipe that people here like, and it would make a great supper with the soup. What do you think, Ru? They could make a simple soup and sandwich supper. Nothing wrong with simple comfort food anytime, as far as I'm concerned--unless their supper ideas clash with your lunch ideas."

As he was speaking, there was a knock on the door. Andrew answered it, and he saw one of the grounds workers there with a large cardboard box. It was addressed to Angus. Angus asked the man to bring the box in. The man brought it in and as close to Angus's chair as the large box would go. Angus looked at the box and saw the writing. He recognized the handwriting at once.

"Ru, do go next door, would you and see if you could find Robert or Michael, preferably. If not, see if you can find Jack," he said. "I'm not opening this until I know we've put at least a few protection spells around it. Fair enough?"

Ruby listened to Angus and Andrew and shook her ehad " nope thats fine, and I agree comfot food now andagain is good for the soul" she said with a smile she heard the knock and looked at the box that was brought in. Her eyes went wide as she recognised the hand writing . Hearing Angus she nodded her ehad and turned to go to the main house.

"Robert, Jack we need your help" she said walking into the room " a parcles arrived and Angus isn't wanting to open it without protetion spells, I think its from my mother" she added spotting Jack walking up from the lab below.

"hum carless" Jack said " best to have Robert too, incase its realy bad" he said to her " go home tell Angus I'll bring Robert and may be marcus if hes free." Jack said and placed his hands on her shoulders " most of all do not worry" he said looking directly at her, Ruby smiled and nodded as she left him and headed back to the duplex . " Jacks bringing over Robert and Marcus if hes free" she relayed.

"That's good," Angus said to Ruby when she returned. "Id rather overreact than to not take any sort of cautions at all."

Robert got Kate and Michael and the three of them went with Jack over to Angus's. Kate laid her hands on the box first, studying it.

"Someone at Gelding's handled the box after Suzanne did," Kate said. "Something secretive about their movements, though. I'm not meant to see it."

"Well, then we'll just have to take care of that, won't we?" Robert said. He and Michael levitated the box out to the yard and then wove containment spells around it so that whatever energies were attached to the box would stay in a magical bubble. Once the containment spells were woven, Robert cast a revealing spell and the box was all surrounded in a bubble of black smoke.

"Bloody dark arts bullsh**," Michael scowled. "Good call, Angus."

"God I wish I could cast a fireball on it," Angus said, frustrated.

"Save your energies," Robert said. He looked at Michael. "Shall we?"

"If we must," Michel teased. The two of them wove a very detailed spell, and that allowed Kate one last opportunity to try to see what she could about the dark spells before Robert and Michael dispensed of the dark enchantments. Soon, though, the dark magic simply dissipated because of the spell Robert and Michael cast. Then Robert opened the box. A letter lifted up, and Robert caught it and took it upon himself to open it and read it.

"Cheeky little bitch," Robert sighed, handing the letter to Angus. The letter sounded like a lot of self pitying drivel, and Suzanne was whining about not being able to see any of her children, thanks entirely to Angus, and that she was sending her little boys their Christmas gifts early and she was also sending a gift to her first grandchild that she believed Angus was entirely responsible that she had been denied an opportunity to see.

"I do not feel sorry for her for a fraction of a second," Angus said coldly.

"Good, because I might have to slap you if you did," Michael replied. He looked in the box and saw a lot of brightly wrapped packages.

"I don't know that I even want to open them, and I do not want them around the boys--at all," Angus said. "Ru?"